In her debut memoir, 'The Waterbearers,' New York-based writer Sasha Bonét explores the legacy of Black women in the United States through the lens of her own family history. The book begins with a quote from Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, emphasizing that the history of Black women is foundational to understanding the history of America as a whole.

Bonét chronicles the lives of three generations, starting with her grandmother, Betty Jean. Born to formerly enslaved parents in Louisiana, Betty Jean raised eleven children, navigating the challenges of the post-slavery South. The narrative then shifts to Bonét’s mother, Connie, who pursued a middle-class lifestyle in Houston, Texas, during a time when she was often living in majority-white spaces. Finally, the memoir brings the story to the present day, detailing Bonét’s own experiences raising her daughter, Sofia, in New York City.

By weaving these personal accounts together, Bonét aims to illustrate how the struggles and triumphs of Black women have evolved over time. The memoir serves as both a family archive and a commentary on the social and economic shifts that have shaped the lives of Black families in America since the end of slavery.